Astronomy
Department of Astronomy
Laboratories and Equipment
Observational Facilities:
- i. Two 12-inch Meade telescopes for students, research scholars and various outreach programs
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ii. A 48-inch reflector telescope at Japal – Rangapur Observatory with the following backend scientific instruments:
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iii.An 8-inch Astrograph with facilities for Astronomical photography
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iv.Two 12-inch reflector telescopes and one CCD camera.
Laboratories:
Computer Facility:
The Centre is well equipped with modern computer facilities with around 15 systems connected with Internet facility. The computers are installed with latest astronomical software’s and statistical packages.
Library
The Centre has a well-equipped library with about 6316 text books on Astronomy and Astrophysics and related subjects. There are about 30,000 research reprints obtained on gratis. The library also subscribes two leading astronomical journals like Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics and Astronomical Journal, Indian Journal of Radio & Space Physics (IJRSP) along with magazines like Sky & Telescope, Current Science etc
Student's participation in Summer Schools
Motivated students at the end of their first year M.Sc. programme will have an opportunity to participate in Summer Schools organized by leading astronomical institutes like IUCAA, Pune; IIA, Bangalore; ARIES, Nainital; PRL, Ahmedabad. Our students have participated in various scientific programs and won accolades for their work.
Mini Planetarium
M.Sc students with help of faculty Dr. D. Shanti Priya and Dr. J. Rukmini have designed and placed the mini planetarium in the department. It is a visual feast for astronomy lovers and provides students opportunity to experience the sky and know many facts virtually. It is a real time experience in visualizing the celestial world.
Scientific Interactions for students
The Department organized regular
interacting sessions with prominent scientists in related field
and alumni of the department. The students have an opportunity to
interact with them and know more on the subject and their
experiences in the field of Astronomy.
Other Facilities
Placements/Achievements/Awards
Dr. D.V.PhaniKumar,Ph.D degree holder in Astronomy, currently working as Scientist D in Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital
Dr. Y.Ravi Kiron has been awarded Ph.D degree in Astronomy is presently working as Director Jawahar Planetarium, AllahabadDr. M.Shiva Kumar, students of this department presently working as Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore.
Dr. Priya Hasan, alumni of this department presently working as Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Moulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad
And many of the Research Scholars and Students are working at National and International laboratories.
At JRO we have installed about 19 Astronomy and Astrophysics exhibits which are useful for school & college students to understand the concepts & principles.
The Observatory conducts regular sky shows and popular lectures on astronomy at Japal-Rangapur Observatory for the benefit of the school & colleges students and for the general public.
Employment Opportunities
Eligibility to teach Physics at Polytechnic Institutions. Research positions at different Astronomical Institutions & Observations in the country, viz., Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore; ARIES, Nainital; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai; Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad; National Physics Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi; Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Bangalore; Planetaria& Overseas Pre- and Post-doctoral research positions.
Major Research Contributions of the Department & the Observatory
The Observatory participated in the International Program called Carte-Du-Ciel or autographic sky survey. The aim of the program was to map the whole sky photographically by assigning various Celestial Zones to 18 different observatories around the world. The zone covering declination from 17 to 23 degrees South and 36 to 39 degrees North was assigned to Nizamiah Observatory. Positions of 4, 63,542 stars were measured and published in 12 volumes of Astrographic Catalogue by Nizamiah Observatory. These measurements are being used by the astronomers all over the world to estimate the proper motion of various types of stars. The Observatory actively participated in the photographic and radio observations of the Total Solar Eclipse of February 16, 1980. It also has participated in the International Halley Watch Programme by making photographic, photoelectric observations of Comet Halley for determining its orbit and production rates of the various molecules. Transit of Venus which occurred on 6th June 2012 was observed and photographed and also shown to general public complete coverage of total lunar eclipse occurred on 27thJuly, 2018 was done from JRO. General Sky shows during astronomical events are carried out by the department.
Future Plans
To provide better opportunities to the students in observational and theoretical astronomy we plan to give them intensive training in computer based observational techniques, data analysis and image processing using latest astronomical software packages also expose the students to radio instruments and the observational techniques and provide them exposure to study astronomical objects in the radio region.
Photo Gallery:
